Buffalo Bills News - December 1, 2003

Mara can't miss message from the stands [2:03 PM]Staten Island Advance reports:
'If they had anything to say, the fans said it with their feet. Most of them were on the Turnpike, or Route 3, long before the Giants managed their initial first down of the second half, 58 seconds into the fourth quarter; a sure sign that lethargy has spread from the playing field to the stands.'

Bills win Disappointment Bowl 24-7 [2:03 PM]USA Today reports:
'"If you are going to be a leader on the team," he said, "it's more important to be on the field when things are going bad than when they are going good."'

Larry Felser: Too Late [1:49 PM]ESN reports:
The victory over the Giants was a reminder that the Bills should have been battling for a playoff berth right to the end. It also should have been a suggestion that better days should be ahead with better handling of this team.

Bills back on the offensive [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"The difference in the game today was we made the plays in the passing game," Bledsoe said. "We've been running the ball well and did again today. Travis Henry had another 100-yard game. But the thing that's been lacking offensively are the plays in the passing game."'

Never-say-quit defense finally reaps the spoils [8:57 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'For three straight weeks, they played their hearts out and had nothing to show for it. Any sensible group would have thrown up their hands and coasted. So what did they do? They played another terrific game. They shut down the NFL's fifth-rated offense as the Bills beat the Giants, 24-7, to end their four-game losing streak.'

Bledsoe gives Giants intense migraine [8:56 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'In one of his best games of the season, Bledsoe completed 19 of 29 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to finish with a sparkling 115.9 QB rating.'

Giants' struggles causing fans to bail [8:54 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Any Bills fans wondering about the job security of coach Gregg Williams knows exactly what's transpired this season with Jim Fassel and the Giants. The Bills came in with a four-game losing streak and left with a rare victory after totally dominating the Giants, who for the first time in Fassel's seven-year tenure lost their fourth consecutive game.'

Monday Billboard [8:53 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The Giants announced a sellout crowd of 78,481, but the figure represents tickets sold. There had to be at least 20,000 empty seats, and with five minutes left there couldn't have been 10,000 people in the stadium.'

Grading the Bills [8:52 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Give Henry valor award for gutting it out again. He had 113 yards on 26 carries. He wore them down with 92 in second half.'

Woe point [8:33 AM]Connecticut Post reports:
'"It was our day today," said Henry, who rushed for 113 yards on 26 carries. "We were clicking on all cylinders."'

Giants keys [8:32 AM]Connecticut Post reports:
'Key player: Drew Bledsoe. The Bills quarterback completed a tidy 19-of-29 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in just under three quarters. Six of his throws went for 20 yards or more.'

Giants notebook [8:31 AM]Connecticut Post reports:
'Giants Stadium was three-quarters empty by the time the fourth quarter began, but nobody on the Giants' offensive line could take the day off, even though it seemed that way for most of the game. Already without guard Rich Seubert (broken leg) and with tackle Luke Petitgout sidelined with back spasms, the makeshift offensive line went through yet another transformation. Jeff Roehl started for Petitgout, but when rookie left guard Wayne Lucier suffered a ligament sprain in his knee late in the second quarter, rookie Scott Peters replaced him and confusion reigned. "Our lack of experience is really showing," center Chris Bober said.'

Fans head to exits as Giants fall apart [8:30 AM]Bergen Record reports:
'"If we practice like dirt and came out and played well, then let's practice like dirt. I don't quite understand it. but I'm telling you that at some point, you have to elevate your game. You can't let this continue to happen because, to be honest, it's embarrassing. Guys have a lot more pride than what we're putting out there."'

Giants end Bills' slump [8:29 AM]Bergen Record reports:
'"I remembered everything and I was thinking fairly clearly," Bledsoe said, "but based on being whacked last week and getting hit again," he was taken out. Too bad for him. After all, the Bills won't play the Giants again until 2007.'

Ineffective O-line has been offensive [8:28 AM]Bergen Record reports:
'In a word the line was a mess. And when your line is a mess, it's difficult for your skill players to function. Darn near impossible.'

Bills smile, at last [5:20 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'The Bills hadn’t played such a complete game since — surprise, surprise — their last victory, a 24-7 romp over Washington on Oct. 19.'

Solid effort leaves team wondering: What if? [5:19 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'“It’s not even 7-5, I say we could be 8-4 or 9-3,” said linebacker Takeo Spikes, who could’ve used a bullet to bite down on. “That’s what drives me. I get (ticked) off. We’re this close to being what we want to be.”'

Offense finally catches up with the defense [5:18 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'“Sometimes you can’t control the outcome of the game,” Milloy said, insinuating without actually saying it that the offense hasn’t done its part in recent weeks. “But defensively if you show up and play hard and give your team a chance to win, nine times out of 10 you’ll win the game."'

Buffalo Bills report card [5:17 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe may have been joking, but he did play better with a fuzzy head brought on by last week’s concussion. His 252 passing yards and two touchdowns was his best output in eight games. Deftly beat the blitz and finished with no turnovers and a 115.9 rating before leaving the game in the third quarter with a 24-7 lead. Now that’s more like it. A.'

Instead of some good football, we got the Bills [5:16 AM]Toronto Star reports:
'"The Bills have a huge following here and our ratings history shows that a bad Bills game will still have higher ratings than any other game," he said, noting that Global traditionally reviews the Bills-first policy in December.'

Giants go from bad to worse [5:12 AM]New York Post reports:
'The Giants did the unimaginable, which is to make the Bills (5-7) look like a powerhouse.'

Fassel & Co. hit new Buffa-low [5:11 AM]New York Post reports:
'But a team that may now win only four games has problems deeper than discipline, planning, instruction, and injury to its No. 1 weapon, Shockey. Or, injury wreckage along the offensive line and defensive backfield that yesterday lost a third starter, Will Allen. The woes run even deeper than a shortage of depth some teams seem to survive better than others.'

Drew becomes Bill of goods [5:10 AM]New York Post reports:
'"We've been waiting for him to have a game like this," WR Eric Moulds said. "He's Drew Bledsoe, he doesn't forget how to be good. We just had a lot of things go wrong."'

Can't blame Collins for this one [5:09 AM]New York Post reports:
'Some of it is Collins' fault and much of it isn't, and no one seems to care right now that much of it isn't.'

Big blue offensive line: We let Kerry down [5:08 AM]New York Post reports:
'"I didn't do what I'm supposed to do," Roehl said. "I thought I was ready to play and I knew my assignments, even though it didn't look like it."'

Call 'em big black & blue [5:07 AM]New York Post reports:
'The Giants' 24 rushing yards was their lowest total since they had 24 yards at Tennessee Oct. 1, 2000. Giants' 10 first downs was their fewest since they had four at Tampa Bay Sept. 12, 1999.'